Press



June 14, 1927. F. B. KEALL 1,632,235

PRES 5 Filed Jan. 25, 1924 2 ShetS-3h00t 1 June 14, 1927.

F. KEALL PRESS Filed Jan. 25, 1924 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 I Patented June 14, 1927.

FRANK BYGROFT KEALL, 0'15 LEICESTER,

'earsn'r'orrics.

:LllilGLANE), ASIdIGrNOR TO UNITED SHOE MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATEl'tSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Pnnss.

Application filed January 25, 1924, Serial No. 688,453, and in Great Britain l ebruaryrw, 1923.

This invention relates to presses and is it lustrated as embodied in a press of the type utilized in cutting blahs :l'rom sheet material by the use oflreely movable dies which.

may be placed successively in selected positions on the materntl to be cut.

Presses commonly employed in cutting blanks from leather and other kinds of sheet of an area considerably less than that of the in the operation ot the machine,

die block. the presser member swung laterally over the die block into and out ct operative relation to the die wherever the latter may be located on the work. In clicking machines as heretofore constructed, va'y considerable eti'ort on the part of the operator was necessary to swing the presser member in moving it into position over the die and subsequently in uncovering the die and the work so that the latter might be inspected and manipulated at will and the die repositioned on the work. W'hilo the greater part of the energy expended by the operator in swinging the presser member was employed in overcoming the inertia of the relatively heavy presser member, an appreciable portion of the energy required was accounted for in the friction between the presser member supporting post and its hearings in the frame of the machine,

\Vith this in view, it is an object 0t this lDYOl'ltiOll to reduce the described friction to a. minimum without sacrificing any oil the advantages of clicking machines of the aforesaid type, While the invention is applicable to many types (it presses it is rmrticularly in tended for use with a clicking machine capable of heavy duty as regards cuttings; through many layers of sheet n'iaterial at a single operation, and having abuttingblock and presser member each with unusually large pressure applying surfaces designed to provide a wide range of action in connection with the cutting of fabrics and other material of lame surface dimensions.

in one aspect the invention resides in. the ln'ovision ot two sets of bearings for the post, one set being movable and the other stationary, one set operative during recipro 'ationot the post to cause a pressure applying operation by the presser member and the other set operative while the machine is at rest to maintain the post vertical and to serve as bearings while the presser member is being swung in lateralidireotions over the work support in another aspect the invention resides in the provision of an auxiliary bearing means for the presser member supporting post op erative to maintain the latter in a vertical position while the presser member is being swung over the work support, and to lacilitate such swinging movement.

In the illustrative machine, theauxiliary bearingmeansis so constructed and arrangedas to be thrown out of operation automatically when the post and pressure member start downwardly in a pressure applying operation so that the stationary bearings take the lateral component of the stresses and strains which develop in the presser member and post during operation on the work.

Preferably and as shown the desired auxiliary hearing means is furnished by a plurality of bearings constructed to serve as antifriction members and located on opposite sides oi the post at a considerable distance fron'i each other so that one is located adjacent to the upper fixed bearing for the post and the other adjacent to the lower fixed bearing for the post. I

in the preferred construction, each antitriction bearing comprises rollers spaced sub-- stantially 9O apart and movable downwardly with the post in a manner to maintain engagement with the post without binding or wedging action thereon while the post is being: si'ipported. by the fixed bearings during a pressure applying operation.

Other novel combinations of parts and features o1? construction will be described in the detailed specification and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in sec tion of a press embodying the invention in one form 1 Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in section and to larger scale, of the upper bea1nsupporting bearing;

Figure 3 is an elevation, partly in section, showing. one of the roller supports of the bearing;

Figure 4 is an elevation showing a cap of the bearing;

Figure his a view sinililar to Figure 2 of the lower bcamssupporting bearing;

Figure 6 is an elevation of one of the Figure 7 is an. end view of a support for a roller arm of the lower bearing; and

FigureS is a side elevation partly in section of an alternative form of beam-supporting hearing.

The illustrative machine is of the general type of that described in the specification of Patent No. 921,503 aforementioned. The unstanding rear member 1 of the frame has the usual aligned upper and lower stationary bearings 2 and 3 for the beam-supporting post 1. These are however somewhat large in relation to the diameter of the post and when the post is in its raised posit-ion the latter is guided upon two auxiliary bearings respectively close to the upper and lower plain bearings.

The upper auxiliarybearing comprises a bracket fixed to the front of the upper plain bearing 2. The bracket 5 has formed in it two recesses (one of which is shown at 6, Figure 8), in which are arms 7 7 carrying rollers 8, 8 rotatably mounted on vertical pins 9, 9 fixed in the arms. The rollers 8, 8 track, at the front of the post f, in a groove 10 formed in the post 4. The arms 7, 7 are pivoted on eccentric portions 11, of

horizontal studs 12, 12 fixed in the bracket 5 by screws 13, so that by rotating the studs the rollers 8, 8 may be adjusted towards or from the post 4-. The arms 7, 7 each have formed on thema cam face 14 which, when the post 4 falls and carries with it the rollers S, 53, engages a face 15 formed on a plate '16, so as to hold the rollersin the groove 10. The plates 16, 16 are fixed by screws 17 to the bracket 5 and have threaded through them set-s rews 18 by which the faces 15 may be adjusted towards or from the post 4.

The lower bearing comprises members 20, 20 fixed, at the rear of the post 1, by screws 21 in the frame '1. The members 20 have fixed in them horizontal pins 22, 22 on which are pivoted arms 23, 23 carrying rollers 21%, 2strotatahly mounted on vertical pins 25, 25 fixed in the arms. The rollers 24- track in a groove 26 formed on the post 4. The rollers are adjustable towards and from the post by means of set-screws 27 threaded through a flange 28 on the members 20 and bearing against the frame of the machine. The arms 23 have formed on them cam faces 25) which, when the post 4 falls, engage faces 30 on the members 20 and hold the rollers in the groove 26.

rollers and its supporting means of this bear- Asthe post 4 descends the grooves 10, 26 draw the rollers 8, 2e down swinging the roller arms 7 23 down and therefore causing the pressure of the rollers against the post to be relieved. The rollers therefore cease to have any beam-supporting function which is transferred to the plain butsomewhat slack bearings 2, 3. The two rollers of each bearing are spaced apart 90 about the post axis and the angle between them is bisected by the vertical plane passing from front to back of the press through the middle of the press block and the post.

An alternative arrangement is one in which the displaceable roller bearings described are replaced by a fixed ball bearing 81 adjustably mounted on the frame 1 and having a tapered seat for a portion of the post 4 to be borne thereby the said portion of the post being tapered in the same direction (i. e. it tapering towards the direction of rise of the post) so that as the post descends a slack is introduced bet-ween the tapered portion of the post and this auxiliary ball bearing support of the post being left to the plain bearings. v

The upstanding rear member 1 of the frame has extending laterally at each side of it below the upper and lower bearings 2 and 3 substantially cylindrical portion 33 which is bolted to a similarly shaped portion 3% extending laterally from a pair of side frames 35, the portions 33, 34; having intermeshing projections and recesses which prevent relative twist of the upstanding rear member 1 and side frames 35. The side frames 35 extend forwardly and at their inner'sides are provided with lugs 36 carrying bearings 37 for vertical screwed pests 38 which support at each corner a rectangular bed 39 to which is fixed the cuttin block ll). The screwed posts 38 have fixed on them sprocket wheels l1 round which passes a chain 42. Slack in the chain is taken up by an idler pulley (not shown) adjustably mounted on the under side of the bed 3.). One of the screwed posts 38 has fixed on it a worm wheel 43 which meshes with a worm 44: fast on a horizontal shaft l5 extending from right to left of the machine rotatably mounted in hearings on the bed 39 and having fixed on its end a hand-wheel 46. When the hand-wheel is rotated the four screws at each corner of the bed will through the worm gearing and chain be equally rotated to raise or lower the cutting block.

Rolls of sheet material are placed in a tray 47 beneath the bed 39 and letwcen the side frames 35, the tray being carried on wheels 48 so that it may be readily drawn out from under the bed to receive the rolls. The material in superimposed layers pas upwardly from the tray over the back of and on to the upper surface of the block 40. At the rear of the block just below and Rae parallel to its rear upper edge is a roller l9 over which the material passes. The roller is rotatably mounted in arms at each end of the block pivoted on vertically adjustable supports 51 fixed in the side frames 35, Springs 52 normally swing the arms and roller rearwardly to clamp the sheets of material. against taces formed on the ulJstanding frame memberl to prevent the material from sliding back into the tray. lVhen the operator desires to draw more material on to the block the roller 49 is swung forwardly to release the material by a hand lever 54 fixed to one of the arms 50 and locked in this position by the eugagement of the lever with. a pin 55 fixed in one of the side frames, the lever springing past the pin as it moves the roller forwardly and being held against the pin, while the material is drawn over the block, by the springs 52 which clamp the material.

At the front of the cutting; block is fixed a trough 56 into which scrz'ips oi material may be placed. The trough is open at one end and a bag 5'7 is fixed on one of the side frames 35 into which the scrap falls as it is swept along the trough and out at the open end. Shields 58, 59 are provided between lhe side frames beneath the bed to guide the material upwardly over the back of the cutting block and to prevent oil or dirt from falling on to the rolls of material in the tray.

In operating with the machine the presser member (30 is swung about the axis ot the post l into a position at one side of the cutting bloc: 410 so that a die may be readily positioned on the material 62 resting 011 the block -il(). After the presser member has been returned to position over the die the clutch (not shown) is tripped by depressing the handle 64 at the :iorwardend of the.

lever 66 whereupon a pressure applying op? eration takes place during which the die is forced through the material. Subsequently, pressure member is again swung to one side to permit removal of the die'and ot the blank or blanks which have been cut from the material and to afford space for inspection 01" the material and repositioning oi the die preliminarily to a repetition oi the lateral component of the stresses and strains which develop during a pressure applying operation 2. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting member and a presser member rel atively movable toward and from each other in pressure applying operations and also in directions laterally of each other, a post for supporting one of the members, and auxiliary bearings spaced from each other and at ditl' erent levels on opposite sides of the post for maintaining the post in vertical position'while the post is at rest at one limit of its movement and for facilitailing swim ingmovement ot the post, said auxiliary bearings being expansible to release the post. i y

In a machine of the class described, a work'supportinp; member and a presser member relatively movable toward and from each other in pressure applying operations and also in directions laterally of each other, a post "for supporting one of the presser members,'loosely fitting stationary bearings for the post operative during a pressure applying operation to support the post against the lateral thrust oi the work, and auxiliary bearing means operative to maintain the post out oi contact with the stationary bearing's while the-imichine is at rest thereby reducing friction on the post to a minimum and thus iiai'tilitating swinging movement of the post and ot the presser member, said auxiliary bearing means being automatically operative to release the post to the stationary bearings during reciprocation ot the post.

4. ln a machine of the class described, a work supporting member and a presser member relatively movable toward and from each other in pressure applyingoperations and also in directions laterally 01 each other, a post tor supporting one of the presser members, loosely fitting stationary bearings for the post operative to take the lateral thrust of the work during a presser applying operation, and auxiliary bearings for holding the post away from contact with the stationary bearings while the machine is at rest, each oft said auxiliary bearings being pivoted to turn on a horizontal axis whereby it is autoi'natically thrown out of operation when the post starts downwardly to apply pressure to the work.

5. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a presser member mov-- able toward and from the bed in pressure applying operations and also in directions laterally over the bed into and out of operative relation to work on the bed, a post for supporting the presser member, upper and lower stationary bearings tor the post and auxiliary bearings for the post, one of which is located in front of the post and adjacent to the upper bearing and the other adjacent to'the lower bearing and at the rear of the post, said auxiliary bearings comprising pivoted members adapt-ed to swing-toward and from the post so that the auxiliary bearings may be expanded to release the post.

6. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and from the bed in pressure applying operations and also in directions laterally over the bed into and out of operative relation to work-on the bed, a post for supporting the presser member, upper and lower stationary bearings for the post, said V applying operationsand also in directions, laterally over the bed into and out or oppost having a circular groove adjacent to the upper bearing, and an auxiliary bearing comprising a roller adapted to seat inthe groove in the postand movable in a direction away from the axis of the post so as to release the post to the stationary bearings during its reciprocation '1 In a machine of the class described, a

' work supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and from the bed in pressure ape able toward and from the bed in pressure applying operations and also in directions laterally over the bed into and out oi oper ative relation to work on the bed, a post for supporting the presser member, and antitriction bearings spaced from each other and at different levels on opposite sides of the post for maintaining the post in vertical position and for facilitating swinging movement of the presser member and post.

9. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and from the bed ,111 pressure rative relation to work onthe bed, apost for supporting the prosser member, stationary bearings for the'post operative during a pressure applying operation to support the post against the lateral thrust of the work, and antitriction bearingsoperative to maintain the post away from contact with the sta' tionary bearings while the machine is at rest thereby reducing friction on the post to a minimum and thus facilitating swinging movement of the post and of the presser member. I

10. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a presser member movabletowerd and from the bed in pressure applying operations and also in directions supporting the presser member, stationary bearings for the post operative to take the lateral thrust of the work during a pressure applying operation, and antifriction bearings for holding the post away from contact with the stationary bearings while the machine is atrest and automatically thrown out of operation when the post and presser member start downwardly to apply pressure to the work.

11. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and from the bed in pressure applying operations and also in directions laterally over the bed into and out of operative relation to work on the bed, a post for supporting the presser member, upper and lower stationary bearings for the post, and antifriction bearings for the post, located on opposite sides of the post, one of which is adjacent to the upper bearing and the other adjacent to the lower bearing. 7

12. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and trom the bed in pressure applying operations and also in directions laterally over the bed into and out of operative relation to work on the bed, a post for supporting the presser member, upper and lower stationary bearings for the post, said post having a circular groove adjacent to the upper bearing and a similargroove adjacent to the lower bearing, and antitric- .tion bearings comprising rollers adapted to seat in the grooves in the post and movable in a vertical direction to maintain contact with the post during reciprocation of the latter.

13. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a prcsser'mcmbcr movable toward and from the bed in pres sure applying operations and, also in directions laterally over the bed into andout of operative relation to work on the bed, a post for supporting the presser member, said post having a circular groove, and an antili'iction bearing for the post comprising a roller adapted to seat itself in the groove, said roller being pivotally mountedso that it may move in a vertical direction to mei. tain contact with the groove in the post during reciprocation of the latter.

lo l. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and t'roin the bed in pressure applying operations and also in directions laterally over the bed into and out oi operative relation to work on the bed, a post for supporting the presser member, and an antifriction bearing torthe post comprising a roller mounted to turn about a vertical and each rotatable about a vertical axis parallel With the axis of the post so that rotation of the latter is facilitated.

16. In a machine of the class described, a Work supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and from the bed in pressure applying operations and also in directions laterally over the bed into and out of operative relation to Work on the bed, a post for supporting the presser member, stationary bearings for the post adapted to take the lateral thrust of the Work during a pres sure applying operation, and an antifriction bearing for the post adapted to hold the post away from the stationary bearings While the machine is at rest thereby facilitating swinging movement of the post and of the presser member, said antifriction bearing automatically releasing the post when the latter starts downwardly in an operation of the machine.

17. In a machine of the class described,

for supporting the presser member, side frames for supporting the bed extending from front to rear of the machine, and a C-shaped frame for supporting the post, said frame and said side frames having hollow cylindrical clamping portions coaXially arranged.

18. In a machine of the class described, a Work supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and from the bed in pres: sure applying operations and also in direc tions laterally overthe bed into and out of operative relation to Work on the bed, a post for supporting the presser member, a holder for material located below the be l, members for guiding the material drawn upwardly at the rear of the bed, and a spring clamp for holding the material in position on the upper surface of the bed.

19. In a machine of the class described, a Work supporting member and a presser member relatively movable toward and from each other in pressure applying operations and also in directions laterally of each other, a post for supporting one of the members, and bearings spaced from each other and at different levels on opposite sides of the post for maintaining the post in vertical position while the post is positioned at one limit of its i'novement and for facilitating swinging movement of the post, said bearings being expansible to re ease the post during pressure applying operations.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK BYCROFT KEALL. 

